Surfboard lock

ABSTRACT

A surfboard lock is described being of unitary construction and including a lock body including two engagement members; the engagement members are movable from a retracted position to an extended position and may be locked in the extended position; in the retracted position the engagement members may be at least partially introduced into the finbox opening of a surfboard; in the extended position the engagement members may engage with the internal walls of the finbox opening to resist removal of the lock therefrom; and attachment means affixed to the lock body for attaching the lock to a sturdy object.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a surfboard lock.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Theft of surfboards is regrettably common. Thus, when a surfboard isleft unattended in a public place, it would be desirable to use ananti-theft device such as a lock. However, surfboards are relativelylarge smooth items and are not readily secured by generic lockingdevices such as chains or padlocks. A specialised lock is required whichwill affix both to a surfboard and a sturdy object, such as a vehicleroof-rack, to prevent unauthorised removal of the surfboard.

Most Malibu surfboards have finboxes. These are produced in variousstandard sizes and are typically of elongate rectangular box likeconstruction with a slot opening to the underside of the surfboard. Thelonger side walls of the finbox include longitudinally directed internalrecesses designed to retain a surfboard fin. This provides an anchor towhich one may affix a lock, albeit a rather inaccessible one.

To date, surfboard locks which affix to the finbox have been complexarrangements of separate components which must be carefully inserted andheld before being retained in place by a padlock or other member. It isoften difficult to hold several components together whilst engaging apadlock. Further, the separate components are prone to loss. This isparticularly the case where the lock is being used on a beach whereparts may fall and be lost in sand. There is a need for an arrangementwhich would ameliorate the above problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect the present invention provides a surfboard lock beingof unitary construction and including a lock body including twoengagement members; the engagement members are movable from a retractedposition to an extended position and may be locked in the extendedposition; in the retracted position the engagement members may be atleast partially introduced into the finbox opening of a surfboard; inthe extended position the engagement members may engage with theinternal walls of the finbox opening to resist removal of the locktherefrom; the surfboard lock further including attachment means affixedto the lock body for attaching the lock to a sturdy object.

For the purposes of this specification a lock of unitary structure isone which, in use, has no separate components or parts. That is, itremains as one part during the operation of locking or unlocking.However, such a lock may be constructed from individual components.

Being of unitary construction, the lock is simple to operate. Further,there are no individual components of the lock to be lost or mislaid.

Preferably, the engagement members are movable between the extended andretracted positions by rotation about a hinge axis. This provides asimple and reliable mechanism for operating the lock.

Preferably, the two engagement members are formed integrally with twocover members. This reduces the overall number of components required toconstruct the lock.

Preferably, the cover members are pivoted to form the hinge axis.

Preferably, the engagement members may be locked in the extendedposition by inserting a locking pin into the lock.

Preferably, the engagement members may be locked in the extendedposition by inserting the locking pin through a hole in a cover member,the locking pin further abuts a locking piece affixed to the other-covermember to resist relative movement between the cover members.

Preferably, the engagement members include oppositely and outwardlydirected lugs. These engage with the longitudinal recesses found in theinternal walls of finboxes.

Preferably, the attachment means includes an attachment member having afirst end permanently affixed to the lock and a second end engageable toaffix the lock to a sturdy object. The attachment member may by engagedto a vehicle roof rack, a telegraph pole or other sturdy object which isnot easily moved.

Preferably, the second end of the attachment member is engageable withthe lock body. The second end of the attachment member may be passedaround a sturdy object and engaged with the lock body. This obviates theneed for a separate padlock or the like for engaging the second end to asturdy object.

Preferably, the attachment member is flexible. This advantageouslyallows the attachment member to be passed sturdy objects of varyingshapes and sizes.

Preferably, the locking pin is attached to the second end of theengagement member. Thus, engagement of the second end of the attachmentmember with the lock body also locks the engagement members in theextended position. In this way, the second end of the attachment memberperforms two functions and reduces the number of parts required toconstruct the lock.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It will hereinafter be convenient to describe an embodiment of theinvention with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to beunderstood that the particularity of these drawings and the relateddescription does not supersede the preceding broad description of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a surfboard lockaccording to the present invention with the engagement members in theextended position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the surfboard lock of FIG. 1 shown withengagement members in the retracted position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the surfboard lock of FIG. 1 engagedwith a finbox;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the surfboard lock of FIG. 1 engaged witha finbox. The finbox is shown in cross section;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the surfboard lock of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the rear cover of the surfboard lock ofFIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the front cover of the surfboard lock ofFIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1 a surfboard lock 10 is shown having a lock body 11including a front cover 12 and a rear cover 14. The front and rearcovers terminate in engagement members 13 and 15, shown in theirextended position. These engagement members include outwardly projectinglugs 16 and 18. The lock further includes attachment means 20 in theform of a thick flexible cable. The cable has a first end 22 permanentlyaffixed to the lock body 11 and a second end 24 terminating in a lockingpin 26. The mid section of the cable is not shown. The cable may be ofany length sufficient to allow it to extend around a sturdy object andthe locking pin 26 to be inserted into lock body 11. Pin 28 forms ahinge which joins the front and rear covers. Lock barrel 30 may berotated upon insertion of an appropriate key. This either retains orreleases the locking pin 26 from the lock body 11.

Referring to FIG. 2, the engagement members 13 and 15 are shown in theretracted position. This is achieved by rotation of the front cover 12and rear cover 14 about the hinge formed by pin 28. When the engagementmembers 13 and 15 are in this position they may be introduced into afinbox opening of a surfboard. The engagement members 13 and 15 may thenbe returned to their extended position, again by rotation of the frontand rear covers 12 and 14 about the hinge formed by pin 28.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the lock 10 is shown engaged with a finbox31 for use with a surfboard. The outwardly extending lugs 16 and 18engage with internal longitudinal recesses 32 in the walls of the finbox31. In use, the finbox 31 is securely affixed to the surfboard. Thefinbox 31 is embedded into the underside of the surfboard and affixedwith adhesive. Th finbox may be partly enclosed by the exterior glossysurface layer of the surfboard. Indeed, forced removal of a finboxtypically results in significant damage to the surfboard.

Referring to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, to lock the engagement members 13 and 15in their extended position locking pin 26 is introduced into the lockbody 11 through hole 34 in the rear cover 14. Locking pin 26 abutsflange 37 of locking piece 36 which is located onto front cover 12 byholes 38 fitting over lugs 40 and retained in place by inserting screwsor rivets into lugs 40. The abutment of the locking pin 26 with flange37 in combination with being passed through hole 34 prevents rotation ofthe front and rear covers 12 and 14 about the hinge formed by pin 28 andthus prevents the engagement members from being moved into theirretracted position.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, pin 28 (not shown) passes through eyelets 44and 46. This holds front cover 12 and rear cover 14 together andprovides the hinge about which front cover 12 and rear cover 14 rotate.

Lock barrel 30 can be rotated upon insertion of the appropriate key.This rotation causes the lock barrel 30 to engage a narrowed portion 42of locking pin 26. Thus engaged, locking pin 26 is retained inengagement with lock body 11 and can only be removed with extreme forcesufficient to destroy the lock.

Prior to inserting locking pin 26 into lock body 11 the cable 20 ispassed about a sturdy object. Thus, the retention of locking pin 26 inlock body 11 not only locks the engagement members in their extendedposition, but it also serves to attach the lock 10 to the sturdy objectby way of cable 20 and thus resist unauthorised removal of thesurfboard.

Typically, there will be enough room to affix the lock to the finboxeven if there-is a fin retained in the finbox. This will depend upon thedimensions of the particular finbox and fin combination being used.

Instead of a lock barrel 30, a combination lock may be used to retainlocking pin 26.

The components of the lock are preferably made from stainless steel toprovide a combination of strength and resistance to corrosion. The lockshould be dimensioned according to the materials used to provide forsuitable strength to resist unauthorised removal of the lock.

Finally, it is to be appreciated that various alterations or additionsmay be made to the parts previously described without departing from thespirit or ambit of the present invention.

1. A surfboard lock being of unitary construction and including: a lock body including two engagement members; the engagement members are movable from a retracted position to an extended position and may be locked in the extended position; in the retracted position the engagement members may be at least partially introduced into the finbox opening of a surfboard; in the extended position the engagement members may engage with the internal walls of the finbox opening to resist removal of the lock therefrom; and attachment means affixed to the lock body for attaching the lock to a sturdy object.
 2. A surfboard lock according to claim 1 wherein the engagement members are movable between the extended and retracted positions by rotating about a hinge axis.
 3. A surfboard lock according to claim 2 wherein the two engagement members are formed integrally with two cover members.
 4. A surfboard lock according to claim 3 wherein the cover members are pivoted to form the hinge axis.
 5. A surfboard lock according to claim 3 wherein the engagement members may be locked in the extended position by inserting a locking pin into the lock.
 6. A surfboard lock according to claim 5 wherein the engagement members may be locked in their extended position by inserting the locking pin through a hole in a cover member, the locking pin further abuts a locking piece affixed to the other cover member to resist relative movement between the cover members.
 7. A surfboard lock according to claim 1 wherein the engagement members include oppositely and outwardly directed lugs.
 8. A surfboard lock according to claim 1 wherein the attachment means includes an attachment member having a first end permanently affixed to the lock and a second end engageable to affix the lock to a sturdy object.
 9. A surfboard lock according to claim 8 wherein the second end of the attachment member is engageable with the lock body.
 10. A surfboard lock according to claim 8 wherein the attachment member is flexible.
 11. A surfboard lock according claim 8 wherein the locking pin is affixed to the second end of the attachment member.
 12. (cancelled) 